Kamasi Washington – Pink Noise Riga

Kamasi Washington, one of the world’s most spectacular and inspiring saxophonists, multi-instrumentalists, composers & bandleaders will be headlining the Pink Noise Riga festival in Riga, the Capital of Latvia, on July 26, 2025!

“Tenor saxophonist Kamasi Washington is a musical unicorn: a hardcore jazz artist who has pushed the boundaries of his own, often-rarified genre, who has also caught the eye of some of hip-hop’s biggest names.”, Esquire

“Meet Kamasi Washington. The High Priest of Sax. A major new force in music, full stop.”, GQ

Kamasi Washington has released some of the most acclaimed musical records of this century like The Epic (2016), Heaven and Earth (2018) and Fearless Movement (2024). Washington’s grand musical arrangements have been anchored in post-bop, funk, soul, and hip-hop, while his unique saxophone sound has melted well with the music of Herbie Hancock, the Florence + the Machine, Kendrick Lamar, André 3000, and even Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Washington’s score for the Michelle Obama documentary Becoming earned him Emmy and Grammy nominations. Washington’s supergroup Dinner Party, co-founded with longtime friends Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper and 9th Wonder, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album for their EP Dinner Party (Dessert).

Born in 1981 in Los Angeles, Kamasi started out on drums at the age of 3 and began studying the clarinet at 9. Mostly listened to hip-hop until he was 11. Got hold of an Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers’ record. Fell madly in love with jazz. Studied his father’s (an acclaimed jazz & church musician Rickey Washington) vinyl collection and taught himself to play. At 13 announced to his father that he wanted to be a jazz musician. Got his Conn 6M alto saxophone (the same model Charlie Parker played) and played it in church for a while. Switched to tenor sax (his father’s legendary Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone, which he still plays today), and the rest is history!

“It would be unfair, and a little silly, to ask whether Washington might be the next Coltrane. In any case, there’s room for only one Coltrane in the theology of jazz. But with his overt spiritualism and his humble bearing, Washington has reawakened the widespread longing for a Coltrane-like figure who might lead jazz out of the desert of obscurity and restore its spiritual purpose.”, New York Times

“Kamasi Washington has been the go-to saxophone player for everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Herbie Hancock, and Washington’s own band has produced some of today’s most vital jazz.”, NPR.com

Pink Noise Riga, inaugurated in 2024 by an inspirational performance of Branford Marsalis and Latvian Radio Big band, is a new kid on the Baltic music scene. Created & developed by the team of Aigars Nords, CEO and founder of Rimi Riga marathon and Riga Wine & Champagne, and Davis Jurka, director of Latvian Radio Big Band, Pink Noise Riga aims to bring some seriously positive musical vibes to the Latvian Capital while helping our beloved Riga stand out & sound bright.

Gear up for eye-opening performances of some of the world’s most loved musicians in Wondersala and other venues of the Latvian capital this summer on July 25 – 26. For now, get your tickets to Kamasi Washington’s only performance in the Baltics, while the rest of our star-studded programme will be revealed a touch later.

Tickets to Kamasi Washington’s July 26 performance at Wondersala now available at bilesuserviss.lv & on pinknoiseriga.com